The MeidasTouch Podcast: "Fox News Panics on Air as Trump Looks Worse Than Expected"

Date: September 3, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, the Meiselas brothers dissect the apparent panic unfolding on Fox News as Donald Trump’s public appearances raise new health concerns. With their trademark blend of humor, informed commentary, and frank criticism, Ben, Brett, and Jordy break down Fox’s spin, MAGA loyalist responses, and notable on-air moments. The episode covers Fox’s attempts to downplay Trump’s frailty, the ongoing right-wing attacks on Democrats, and the shady overlap between crypto grifts and Trump interests. The brothers highlight hypocrisy, media manipulation, and defensive posturing from conservative corners, all while tying back to urgent issues for democracy and the upcoming election.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fox News’ Frantic Defense of Trump’s Health

• Fox parades medical analysts and politicians to claim Trump’s health is “mesmerizing.”

  • Multiple Fox guests, including Dr. Marc Siegel, are brought on to downplay visible signs of Trump’s apparent ill health—such as stumbling, bruising, and lethargy.
  • Fox pivots to claim any questions about his health are “ageism,” conveniently ignoring their criticisms of Biden’s age.

• Quote:

  • “Could you imagine? You think we're being ageist to Donald Trump? Dude is decomposing and rotting before our eyes.”
    — Ben (03:15)

• Key segments:

  • [02:59] Senior Fox Medical Analyst: “President Trump doesn't use a teleprompter... you're sitting there mesmerized as he talks.”
  • [04:08] Dr. Siegel: “25% of people at 80 are demented. Guess who was in that group? 25%, the former president. This guy, he's in the 75% group. This is pure ageism.”

2. Right-Wing Narratives on Media and ‘Truth’

• MAGA Senator Markwayne Mullin: Only Fox gives you “real news.”

  • Promotes the notion that all other networks lie or distort reality, referencing selective editing and hyping Fox’s “truth” credentials.
  • Highlights right-wing media’s self-victimization and projection.

• Quote:

  • “That's why Fox exists, because you can actually get news here... instead of some biased narrative that CBS and these other left wing media outlets continue to draw...”
    — Sen. Markwayne Mullin on Fox [05:40]

• Meiselas response:

  • Ben exposes Fox’s documented internal contempt for its own audience, referencing billion-dollar settlements and leaked communications:
    “They have nothing but contempt for their own viewers and laugh at them all the way to the bank.” [06:27]

3. Trump Family’s $5 Billion Crypto Windfall

• Shady business entanglements take center stage.

  • Fox Business covers Trump’s new crypto venture (WLFI Coin), which instantly became the family’s biggest asset.
  • Hosts debate whether it’s a conflict of interest, while noting Trump-friendly crypto legislation is being advanced.

• Quote:

  • “It’s crypto-friendly legislation coming from the President of the United States who is in turn cashing in on the crypto phase personally. His family.”
    — Ben (09:34)

• Key segments:

  • [08:46] Fox Business: “The Wall Street Journal says this token is the family's most valuable asset, exceeding their property portfolio.”
  • [09:44] “Conflict of interest. They say no, but that's how it appears.”

4. Fox News Gaffes and Hypocrisy Highlights

• Merchandise ironies:

  • Jesse Watters inadvertently admits Fox News merchandise is made in China.
  • [12:03] Jesse Watters: “Not made in China.”
  • [12:07] Producer: “It's made in China.”

• Trashing Clean Energy:

  • Fox guests denigrate solar and wind projects as “unreliable” and “wasteful,” echoing Trump’s anti-renewables stance.
  • [12:56] Ben: “It’s just so weird that because Donald Trump hates windmills, he has injected that we are destroying wind and solar energy here.”

5. Attacks on Democrats & Revisionist History

• Gavin Newsom, National Guard, and police:

  • Jesse Watters accuses Newsom of “stealing Trump’s style” but never his policies; Newsom rebuts, labeling Trump’s platform as “fascism and authoritarianism.”
  • Jeanine Pirro confuses military and police roles, equating National Guard deployment with law enforcement.

• Quote:

  • “Gavin's not stealing Trump's style, he's mocking it... Trump's policies are trash. They're fascism and authoritarianism.”
    — Ben (13:38)

• Posse Comitatus & Legal Boundaries:

  • Federal judge clarifies military’s restrictions on domestic policing.
  • Fox guests deny evidence of military-policing overreach, despite video evidence to the contrary.

6. Racist Commentary & Historical Revisionism

• Tommy Tuberville maligns Chicagoans.
  • [16:57] “Those people in Chicago, they're either corrupt, mentally ill or stupid...”
• Jesse Watters’ false history:
  • [17:34] “That says, I think it was, you know, blacks and the indigenous built Chicago. No, they didn't. The English established it.”
  • Ben calls out the overt racism and whitewashing of Chicago’s diverse roots.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Ben on Fox’s Ageism Hypocrisy:
  “What do you think y'all were doing with former President Biden? The guy was... Your whole coverage was ageism.” [03:15]

• Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s Fox Cheerleading:
  “That's why Fox exists, because you can actually get news here. You can actually understand what's happening...” [05:40]

• Ben on Fox News settlements:
  “Fox paid out billion dollars in settlements for knowingly lying to intentionally deceive their own audience... They have nothing but contempt for their own viewers and laugh at them all the way to the bank.” [06:27]

• On Trump’s Crypto Grift:
  “It’s crypto-friendly legislation coming from the President of the United States who is in turn cashing in on the crypto phase personally. His family.” [09:34]

• Jesse Watters Caught on China:
  [12:07]

  • Watters: “Not made in China.”
  • Producer: “It's made in China.”

• Ben on Revisionist Attacks:
  “Gavin's not stealing Trump's style, he's mocking it... Trump's policies are trash. They're fascism and authoritarianism. That is why.” [13:38]

Notable Timestamps

• [02:59] – Fox’s medical analyst claims Trump is “mesmerizing,” despite health rumors.
• [04:08] – Dr. Siegel invokes bogus statistics to shield Trump.
• [05:40] – MAGA Senator bashes non-Fox media while exalting Fox’s “truth.”
• [08:46] – Fox Business details explosive Trump crypto windfall.
• [12:07] – Fox merchandise is outed as “made in China.”
• [13:29] – Jesse Watters accuses Newsom of “jockeying Trump’s style.”
• [16:57] – Tommy Tuberville insults Chicago residents.
• [17:34] – Jesse Watters advances a racially charged denial of Black and Indigenous Chicago history.

Conclusion

In a packed, irreverent episode, the Meiselas brothers expose Fox News’ desperate spin on Trump’s decline, shine a light on the network’s internal duplicity, and mock a week rife with self-inflicted right-wing contradictions and conspiracies. Their analysis highlights dangerous political trends and media hypocrisy while urging listeners to stay sharp and engaged.